Speaking to a group of supporters on Thursday, Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul reiterated the central theme of his campaign, telling supporters that states should have the right to resolve a majority of issues.
“The last thing I think is some bureaucrat in Washington should be solving this problem,” Mr. Paul said, referencing a debate in Nevada over the management of wild horses and roads on public lands. “I can guarantee they’ll make a wrong decision and not please anyone. The more privatized and localized, the better solution it would be.”
Mr. Paul, who has campaigned on limited government and reducing spending, spent much of the day campaigning in Nevada, meeting with supporters, and noting that he remains confident in his chances of a strong finish in Saturday’s Nevada caucus.
“It looks like the revolution is alive and well,” said Mr. Paul. “This is a great state. There’s a lot of people here who really like freedom.”
Mr. Paul also said the U.S. Forest Service should not be imposing travel management plans on public land in Nevada and elsewhere across the West. The effort, which began under George W. Bush’s presidential administration, should be up to the states, he said.
“I don’t want the federal government dictating to Nevada, period,” Mr. Paul said. “I want to see the land owned and controlled by the states.”
“If the status quo is extended by the other candidates, I have to challenge them. And they all represent a variation of the status quo,” the Texas Republican added.
Recent polls show Mr. Paul trailing Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. Mr. Paul has largely struggled to perform well in a number of early primary and caucus states, however, he has focused his campaign resources in recent days on Maine and Nevada with the hope of a top-tier showing.
